Wednesday, January 25, 2012

PEGGY BLANN PHIFER is an author and columnist, book reviewer and author interviewer, whose work has appeared on various Web sites and writer periodicals both in print and online. She is also an avid reader who loves to escape by diving between the covers of a good book. Peg enjoys handcrafts of all kinds and her home shows off some of her work, though most end up as gifts for friends and family. A retired executive assistant, Peg now makes her home in southern Nevada with husband Jim.

Pregnant and widowed hadn’t been part of her “happily ever after” dream. And now, someone was trying to kill her...

Erin Macintyre never expected to be a widow and a new mother in the same year, anymore than she expected mysterious notes, threatening phone calls, and a strange homeless man who seems to know all about her. The thought of raising a child without a father is daunting enough—worse when you have no idea who might want to harm you. Put an old flame into the mix, and her life begins a tailspin into a world she never knew existed.

When P.I. Clay Buchanan, stumbles upon Erin at her husband's gravesite, he’s totally unprepared for her advanced pregnancy. Her venomous reaction at seeing him, however, was predictable. But Clay can’t let her distrust, or his guilt, get in the way—not when he has evidence that proves Erin’s life is in danger.
With few options left, Erin begrudgingly accepts Clay’s help...and it just might be her undoing.

Ever since I can remember, something inside told me I would be a writer. Not that I recognized it. Life interrupted too many times for a number of years, until I retired from the working force in 2000. All of a sudden I had time to follow that urge. And God managed to nudge me—repeatedly—to pick up the pieces I’d fiddled with through the 1990’s, my affirmation that I was to write His story. The story He gave me to write.

It all began back in the 1940’s. Honest. My dad let me play with his Royal typewriter, a big, heavy thing with a 15” carriage, the one on which he wrote his Master’s Thesis. Even before I took typing in high school, I was able to pound out some business letters for Daddy and fool around with vague ideas of stories whirling around in my head.

An avid reader, I guess it was inevitable I’d soon begin to believe I could write better than some of what I read. The rest, as they say, is...not quite history. Life happened. Marriage, children, a move to a location a hated, culminating in an unwanted divorce and a chronic condition that indicated a change of climate. At age 40, I packed up everything I could into my 1973 Lincoln Continental Mark III and headed for the desert southwest. Hot and dry. Just what the doctor ordered. Literally.

New in town, now job, no friends, no funds except $2,000 in Traveler’s Checks, I found an apartment for $219 a month in a location I soon learned was...dangerous and drug-ridden. But I landed a job that turned out to be within walking distance from the apartment. I had little choice until I started earning an income. And that’s when the writing urge returned. Shy, and hard to befriend, I took my one-hour lunch to begin to form the basis of the story that became TO SEE THE SUN. That was 1980.

My job had me on the phone through various positions, and when I’d make an out-of-town call and identify myself “Hi, this is Peggy in Las Vegas” I grew tired of the immediate response in various forms of “Hey, Peg, won any money lately?” My standard come back was something like “Hey, you know there’s more to Vegas than “The Strip” and gambling. People actually live here. Our children even go to school. We go to church. Believe it or not, many of us never enter a casino!” Yeah, I tended to get a little sarcastic.

So, the more I worked through multiple location changes in my manuscript, none of which quite felt right, I finally decided to set it right here in my adopted home town. When I retired in 2000, I set out in earnest to seek publication. Up to that point I was more or less playing around. That’s why I say my newly released book was 10+ years in the making. I don’t like to admit it was actually over 30 years.

But God kept the story alive and gave me the tenacity to stay with it. I’m eternally grateful He did...AND that I listened.

* * * * *

Thank you, Peg, for sharing with us today.

Guest Question: Whether you’re a reader or a writer...or both...has a change in location, job, or situation made a life-changing difference in your life? How so? Was it for the better, or worse?

ENTRY RULES Readers, IF there is a book giveaway, leave your email address (name at domainname dot com/net) along with your answer to the question for your chance to win a FREE copy of the book above. If you do not answer the question, and your email address isn't provided, you will not be entered.

This week, the contest is open to anyone worldwide. Paperback copy to anyone in the contiguous 48 states of the United States. E-book version (Kindle or Nook) to everyone else.

40 comments:

Whether you’re a reader or a writer...or both...has a change in location, job, or situation made a life-changing difference in your life? How so? Was it for the better, or worse? -->

I'd say so. Being laid off from being a teacher is what returned me to my first love of writing. Freelancing is different than being a sportswriter at a daily, but it's still heavenly. If I hadn't have been laid off from education I wouldn't have experienced all of the wonderful things I'm enjoying today!

Much like Peggy, I've written stories since I was ten years old. Throughout my married life and raising two sons, I still pursued the dream. After fifty years in the same home in southern California, I, too, have relocated to Nevada (a few hundred miles north of Peggy, in Sparks). The new location, the new outlook, the new scenery have shown me that I now have time to fulfill that dream. I'm within days (maybe hours) of putting "The End" to the final page. And the story has been in the works for ten plus years. I would love to win a copy of my "neighbor's" book. Thanks for the opportunity.Lois Hudsonhudson5107 at aol dot comhudson5107@aol.com

Thank you, Zari. I would certainly say you did have a dramatic change in your life. But I'll tell you what, I am thoroughly enjoying your once-a-month devotionals on my blog. May God continue to bless you.

Lois, it sounds like you and I have much in common. What you said could easily be an echo from me. The 'culture-shock' of moving from northern Wisconsin to southern Nevada was like no other previous moves during my life. But it was definitely for the better. :)

In 1970 I flew from Nashville, TN to a small town in South Carolina to take a teaching job. There have been many ups and downs and bumps in the road, many joys and many regrets. My greatest regret is that I'm now retired and live 550 miles from my first family and can't afford to move back.

My husband lost his job of 19 1/2 years in October of last year. Talk about being in shock! We've had to make a lot of changes because of this situation. There is no unemployment benefits and we have no medical insurance. At first we felt this was the worst thing ever! Now since we have seen God's provision in our life our Faith has been strengthened! So, it has been a change for the better. Every day we depend on God and every day God provides! How Awesome is that?

I had wanted to find time to write for years, and when I ended up bed ridden from the injuries, I began to read books on how to write. When I got up out of bed, I wrote my first story and kept reading how to become a published writer.

Even though, today, seventeen years later, I still have pain from my injuries, I am grateful that I took the plunge and started to write.

Wow, Judy. So many of our friends, and some family, have been dealt that same blow. How wonderful that you've managed to make the adjustment. God told us we'd have trials. He also promised he'd see us through them.

My husband and I were in a car/truck accident a number of years ago in a rental car. Yikes. (I describe what happened in my book--sort of.) God works in mysterious ways, doesn't He? You started writing and I used an experience to enhance my novel. :)

Working outside the home has had a major impact on my time and my energy. I often don't feel I have a creative cell in my body when I get home. But, somehow, by God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit I accomplish the tasks He puts on my heart.

I am looking forward to reading Peg's book. She and I have been encouraging one another online for a long time and I am so pleased about her accomplishment!!

Congratulations, Peg! I'm so excited about your FIRST (meaning there will be many more!) novel releasing. Don't enter me in the giveaway--I've already bought the book. Now all I need to do is steal some time to read it! Can't wait!!!

What a fabulous and inspiring post. Congratulations on your story being published. May there be many more. It sounds like a fascinating story.

I'm in the middle of a life change now. In 2004 I left Corporate America to focus on my writing. Now it seems I am being called back to the workforce to help supplement my husband's income. This has required a great deal of prayer, as I am fighting it tooth and nail. All I want to do is write, but I must do what is best for my family too.

Peggy - fun to hear more of your life story. I am a new follower to your blog and enjoyed seeing your excitement build as the release date came closer.I am still in MN, but after working for almost 30 years at the same company and my husband for 15 years at his company, we have experienced several layoffs and unemployment periods. We do see God's hand both in provision and the ability to have time to help my parents with some major health issues. Not what I would choose to go through but I am stronger in my faith.Would love to win a copy of your book.SharonSouth Sub Book Club Coordinatorsmoore at tcq dot net

Oh dear, Cheryl. Having to go back to work would just about kill me . . . figuratively. We're both on Social Security and get a small monthly income from our IRA, and we've managed to keep above water. Praying for you as you make this tough decision. Good luck in the drawing.

Hey, Sharon, happy to see you here. Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment. My husband retired in 1988 at age 49 then came back to work as a contract salesman. I retired after 21 years with the same company. It was 12 years of me being the one who came home to say "Hi, honey, I'm home. What's for supper?" LOL

Great interview Peg! I'm so excited for you. I know how hard you have worked on this book. Hearing your story gives me renewed hope that I may finish my novel(s) and get them published someday.

Before I moved to Colorado from New York, I took a trip on horseback in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado for eleven days. A few months after that, I started a novel based on that trip. It is still lurking inside my computer, waiting to be completed.

Don't enter me in the giveaway. I bought the book for my Kindle for PC already. I just read that first chapter, so I know I'll be up late reading more tonight after I get other stuff done that I need to do.

Peg, I loved learning more about you in this interview. :o) I have your book in my Amazon cart for next time I place an order, so don't enter me in the contest. But I'm so excited for you and can't wait to get the book!

Peggy the book sounds like a "must read" to me!!! I am putting it on my wishlist and hoping to win a copy. My son's illness and subsequent death 6 years ago put any thoughts of a job on hold for me. I had always planned to get back to work at some point and now I have found myself being a full-time stay at home grandmother helping to raise 2 of my 10 grandchildren and babysitting most of the others on a regular basis. We never know what awaits us around the next bend in the road:) Glad your bend led you to fulfill your dreams of writing...margie at mijares dot net

Margie, God has placed you right where He wants you to be. I honor you for that. Those grand babies need you,and Jesus knew that. Remember what Paul said about being content in whatever place he found himself. (Or something to that effect. I think he was in prison at the time.)

Peg,the book sounds great.Your writing grabs me and your example inspires me. casswessel@ymail.comWhen my dh moved us from the USA to Canada, cultural change shocked me. Then when he died, widowhood shocked. After that, God's call didn't just shock, it electrified -- because His goodness never failed and His provision always provided. When His call came to write, I knew He'd not let me down. He never will disappoint those He calls.

When our oldest child was 18 mos old we moved to Houston, TX. That was a huge move for this country girl. We were HOURS away from family and my husband had just taken a new job that demanded a lot of his time. It was a really hard move, but in some ways it was good for us. It forced us to build a stronger relationship with each other. It opened my eyes to a totally different culture. Even though it was really hard for us I think in the long run it was a good thing overall for our family.Shirleybeekeeper(at)bellsouth(dot)net.